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Josie The Crashpadder Hall of Fame (a work in progress)I have been more excited than a whippet in a stuffed rabbit factory recently, because we’ve had some truly stunning Pads added to Crashpadder. In fact lots of them are so blooming special that I felt as though I had to place them all together somewhere, for the sake of argument let’s call it a ‘Hall of Fame’. But before we get cracking I want to make it clear that if your Pad isn’t currently part of the Hall of Fame that isn’t because it’s not special. All Pads are special in their own way and will be perfect for certain Crashpadder trips. Also please note that this list is a work in progress, if you think your Pad belongs here, rubbing shoulders with the likes of the Cool Caribbean Room and Mountain Bike Heaven, please don’t hesitate to add a link to it at the bottom. Right, disclaimers aside, here we go – just a few of the homestay treats that have caught my eye recently: This lovely little boat sleeps 4 people. It is affectionately known as “Tessie” by its owners. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen and a bathroom with a shower and toilet. The owners actually live next door on their own houseboat/ B&B. The boat is well-heated, with plenty of light from all the windows from which you have a panoramic view of the canal. Price: €25 per night for the first guest and €10 EUR per night for each additional guest. This incredible ’grand designs’ style windmill conversion sleeps two people. The double room is situated on the 4th floor of the windmill, and as such features curved walls, large oak beams and amazing views. A private wet room is also located on same floor. The 1st floor boasts a sun terrace for sunny days, al fresco meals and drinks. Price: £50 per room per night.
Beach Spa Apartment – Nelson, New Zealand This decadent apartment sleeps five and is ideally located for a relaxing break in the sun. It is a self-contained apartment, just across from quiet beach. It comes complete with a private bathroom, separate toilet, kitchenette, laundry and dining area. Meanwhile the outside space includes an entertainment area, a private hot-tub, a BBQ, and a small pool for summer use. Price: $100 NZD per room, per night
Smack bang in one of the most happening areas in Europe this Dublin double is suitable for one person, a couple or two friends. The room is located in a nice modern apartment, which is also fully furnished. The real appeal of this Pad however is the location, Temple Bar is found on the south bank of the River Liffey in central Dublin. Its charm lies in the fact that it has preserved its medieval, cobbled streets. As such it is heralded as “Dublin’s cultural quarter” and boasts a lively nightlife. Price: €30 per night for the first guest and €10 EUR per night for each additional guest.
This dream Pad in Lanzarote includes a double bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, lounge, a computer and internet connection, a heated pool, sun patio, gardens and off-road parking. This Pad is centrally located in the heart of Lanzarote. As such it’s away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas, but only 10 minutes drive to beaches, bars, restaurants and shops and 5 mins drive to Golf Course. Price: £70 per room per night
This beautifully furnished, cosy mountain top retreat sleeps 2 and boasts some incredible views. Set in Carmarthenshire countryside on the edge of Brechfa Forest and its world class mountain bike trails this Pad is perfect for keen cyclists. You can literally ride or walk from your door! Perfect for exploring the forest trails of West Wales along with over 260 miles of coastal paths. Price: £50 per room per night
Cool Caribbean Room – Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia This stunning Pad is located on a hillside overlooking the blue Caribbean sea. As such it always benefits from a cool breeze to take the heat and mosquitoes away. The room has a fantstic view of the local beach and banana plantation from the private balcony (see picture). Breakfast is an option if needed as is an evening meal. This Pad also comes with the freedom to explore the island without restraint! Price: $40 USD per room, per night …to be continued… Read the rest of The Crashpadder Hall of Fame (a work in progress) »
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Josie Calling all expats…Let me start by saying that I’m no expat expert. My longest stints abroad have been one academic year in Greece and another in China and Thailand. I was an English teacher in both countries but still managed to fit a fair bit of backpacking in – so I didn’t ever really feel like I was ‘settling down’ abroad. Expats on the other hand choose to do just that. They may have been sent abroad by their employer, chosen to go for tax reasons or simply because they prefer sunnier climes. Regardless of why they go, the end result is the same and for me this adventurous group of people are the ultimate Crashpadder hosts.
1) Language barriers Though we should all make efforts to learn the language of the countries we visit, there are some occasions when a shared mother tongue is a thing to be treasured. If you’ve been out, struggling with a new language all day, being able to chill out at your host’s Pad at the end of it (without having to keep your trusty phrase book on standby) can be a godsend. Similarly, in a tight spot such as when you’re trying to work out how to get to the Pad you’ve booked from the train station, being able to get instructions quickly and easily can mean the difference between making it there safely and wandering around aimlessly for hours. 2) Shared experience An expat host will have gone through the same experience as you when they first arrived. Local expertise is one of the real benefits of Crashpadding. Sure, a hotel concierge can recommend a restaurant or excursion – but can you ever be 100% certain that they haven’t been incentivised to do so? Also, while a host who has lived in your destination all their lives will be able to recommend the places to avoid and the secret treasures that are not to be missed – they’ll never have come to them ‘fresh’ in the way an expat will have. 3) Mutual appreciation While expats have all chosen to live abroad for one reason or another I’ll wager a pretty penny that they enjoy the odd reminder of ‘home’. If you know you’re going to be staying with an expat Crashpadder host why not take along a treat, such as a magazine or chocolate bar? Failing that your presence there will probably be a welcome reminder of the place they’ve come from. Would you look at that, another example of Crashpadder being mutually beneficial for guests and hosts. Ah, Crashpadder – will you ever cease to delight? If any of this seems hopelessly uninformed do let me know via the little box below. It would be great to get a take on Crashpadding from the point of view of expats all over the world:
Just one request though, as someone living under London’s perpetual grey cloud, I’d appreciate it if any UK expats would be gentle when describing how wonderful it is to escape our temperamental climate..!
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Josie Green travel, green commuting and green salad – doing our bit for 10:10As you know we like to think of ourselves as pretty eco-conscious, after all staying with a Crashpadder has been proven to be the greener way to travel. Ever since Dave Hampton, the Carbon Coach, revealed that a stay in a Crashpad comes with a carbon footprint that is between 80% and 90% smaller than an equivalent stay in a hotel, we’ve been pretty pleased with ourselves. In fact Stephen even dressed up as a cheerleader for a spell and did some backflips, chanting “Go green travel! Go green travel!”* In 2007 the Campaign Against Climate Change reported that hotels were responsible for around 2% of the UK’s carbon emissions. It makes sense really, while they make a lot of noise about renewable obligations, hotels have to maintain rooms and services that are often left unoccupied and wasted. Conversely people’s homes are always in use and as such it makes very little difference to the environment to pop an extra person (or two) under the same roof – Crashpadder style.
But now we’ve decided to up the ante a little, by signing up to http://www.1010global.org/. If you haven’t heard of it, where have you been? This thing is hotter than Cheryl Cole’s latest shade of lip gloss! For those of you who don’t know, 10:10 is a global campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 10% each year – starting in 2010. You can take part as a person, a family, a school, an organisation – or like is as a business. Take a look at the 10:10 website, where you can sign up. As 10:10 tell us; ‘by working together we can make sure our actions count’ – it may have a touch of fromage about it but we think their hearts are certainly in the right place. So, what’s the plan Stan? Well, as our Twitter followers will know we’ve now got some rocket growing on the windowsill of Crashpadder HQ, which can only be described as verdant – and certainly comes with fewer air-miles than its supermarket-bought cousins. Another thing you may not appreciate about the three of us, is that we also cycle into work. Stephen and myself may have no more than a 5-10 minute cycles each – but the increasingly pert Dan has to ride his trusty wheeled steed a whopping 9 miles to work each morning (and 9 home again too). Not only do we all get a bit healthier each day, save money on our London Underground travel card – but we’re doing our bit for 10:10. So, green travel, green commuting and green salad are all covered by Crashpadder – the question is what’s next? Would appreciate any helpful suggestions for new ways to to cut our carbon emissions – and yes girls, I’ll ask Dan if he’ll allow me to post a picture of him in his cycling shorts for you. It really is an eye-watering sight… Read the rest of Green travel, green commuting and green salad – doing our bit for 10:10 » |
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Did you know a Crashpadder's carbon footprint is around 80% smaller than a hotel guest's?
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